Forney L. Gilliland, who went West, will be buried here. When Forney L. Gilliland left Birmingham 18 year ago, he told his oldest brother, "I'm going out West to make good."
He accomplished his purpose, and now he's coming home - to be buried. Gilliland's body will arrive in Birmingham from Fresno, Calif., at 8 a.m. Saturday. Relatives here have been told that in Fresno, Mr. Gilliland was a successful gold miner. During the 18 years since 1933 - when Gilliland left Birmingham - his whereabouts have been a mystery. Only once, in April 1943, he wrote a brother, Grover Gilliland, then a city detective, and told him: "I'm on my way to Alaska to do some work for the government. I'll write later, if a sub doesn't get us." The brother asked FBI assistance in helping trace the missing man, who left a wife and five children here. J. Edgar Hoover wrote the detective that his brother had been traced to Texarkana, Tex.; to El Paso, Albuquerque, N.M. and then to Red Bay. Ore. But despite the fact that he apparently never used an assumed name, they lost his trail there.
Relatives heard nothing after the 1943 letter until another brother, Dr. Oliver Gilliland, of New Orleans, was notified that Forney Gilliland died in a Fresno Hotel December 1.
The notification said he lived at the hotel. A further check with authorities said he died of a heart attack; that he left a new auto, and had "a couple substantial checks' due him from a mining concern. The authorities said he had done more than just make good - that he was a highly respected man in California mining circles. Surviving are his mother Mrs. J. B. Gilliland-Murray who resides with son Grover E. of Horton; Forney L., Jr. of 115 Graymont Ave, West, and Aubrey D., West Blocton. Daughters are Mrs. Gearldine Blackman of Houston and Mrs. Mary Jo Patrick of Birmingham. A third brother, Elver Gilliland, lives in Palmerdale. Funeral services are to be held in Oneonta at 3 p.m. Sunday. Brown-Service will be in charge.
[The Birmingham News, December 7, 1951]
Passes Away
Mr. Forney Gilliland passed away December 1st in Fresno, California. His body was returned to Birmingham. Funeral services were held at Old Liberty Church near Oneonta, Sunday, December 9th at 3:00 P. M. with burial in the adjoining cemetery. Brown Service of Birmingham in charge. Surviving Mr. Gilliland are three sons and two daughters, Aubrey D. Gilliland of West Blocton. Alabama; Grover Gilliland of Horton, Alabama; Forney Gilliland, Jr., of Birmingham; Mrs. Geraldine Blackmon of Altoona and Mrs. James Kirkpatrick of Birmingham.
He accomplished his purpose, and now he's coming home - to be buried. Gilliland's body will arrive in Birmingham from Fresno, Calif., at 8 a.m. Saturday. Relatives here have been told that in Fresno, Mr. Gilliland was a successful gold miner. During the 18 years since 1933 - when Gilliland left Birmingham - his whereabouts have been a mystery. Only once, in April 1943, he wrote a brother, Grover Gilliland, then a city detective, and told him: "I'm on my way to Alaska to do some work for the government. I'll write later, if a sub doesn't get us." The brother asked FBI assistance in helping trace the missing man, who left a wife and five children here. J. Edgar Hoover wrote the detective that his brother had been traced to Texarkana, Tex.; to El Paso, Albuquerque, N.M. and then to Red Bay. Ore. But despite the fact that he apparently never used an assumed name, they lost his trail there.
Relatives heard nothing after the 1943 letter until another brother, Dr. Oliver Gilliland, of New Orleans, was notified that Forney Gilliland died in a Fresno Hotel December 1.
The notification said he lived at the hotel. A further check with authorities said he died of a heart attack; that he left a new auto, and had "a couple substantial checks' due him from a mining concern. The authorities said he had done more than just make good - that he was a highly respected man in California mining circles. Surviving are his mother Mrs. J. B. Gilliland-Murray who resides with son Grover E. of Horton; Forney L., Jr. of 115 Graymont Ave, West, and Aubrey D., West Blocton. Daughters are Mrs. Gearldine Blackman of Houston and Mrs. Mary Jo Patrick of Birmingham. A third brother, Elver Gilliland, lives in Palmerdale. Funeral services are to be held in Oneonta at 3 p.m. Sunday. Brown-Service will be in charge.
[The Birmingham News, December 7, 1951]
Passes Away
Mr. Forney Gilliland passed away December 1st in Fresno, California. His body was returned to Birmingham. Funeral services were held at Old Liberty Church near Oneonta, Sunday, December 9th at 3:00 P. M. with burial in the adjoining cemetery. Brown Service of Birmingham in charge. Surviving Mr. Gilliland are three sons and two daughters, Aubrey D. Gilliland of West Blocton. Alabama; Grover Gilliland of Horton, Alabama; Forney Gilliland, Jr., of Birmingham; Mrs. Geraldine Blackmon of Altoona and Mrs. James Kirkpatrick of Birmingham.
Forney L. Gilliland, who went West, will be buried here. When Forney L. Gilliland left Birmingham 18 year ago, he told his oldest brother, "I'm going out West to make good."
He accomplished his purpose, and now he's coming home - to be buried. Gilliland's body will arrive in Birmingham from Fresno, Calif., at 8 a.m. Saturday. Relatives here have been told that in Fresno, Mr. Gilliland was a successful gold miner. During the 18 years since 1933 - when Gilliland left Birmingham - his whereabouts have been a mystery. Only once, in April 1943, he wrote a brother, Grover Gilliland, then a city detective, and told him: "I'm on my way to Alaska to do some work for the government. I'll write later, if a sub doesn't get us." The brother asked FBI assistance in helping trace the missing man, who left a wife and five children here. J. Edgar Hoover wrote the detective that his brother had been traced to Texarkana, Tex.; to El Paso, Albuquerque, N.M. and then to Red Bay. Ore. But despite the fact that he apparently never used an assumed name, they lost his trail there.
Relatives heard nothing after the 1943 letter until another brother, Dr. Oliver Gilliland, of New Orleans, was notified that Forney Gilliland died in a Fresno Hotel December 1.
The notification said he lived at the hotel. A further check with authorities said he died of a heart attack; that he left a new auto, and had "a couple substantial checks' due him from a mining concern. The authorities said he had done more than just make good - that he was a highly respected man in California mining circles. Surviving are his mother Mrs. J. B. Gilliland-Murray who resides with son Grover E. of Horton; Forney L., Jr. of 115 Graymont Ave, West, and Aubrey D., West Blocton. Daughters are Mrs. Gearldine Blackman of Houston and Mrs. Mary Jo Patrick of Birmingham. A third brother, Elver Gilliland, lives in Palmerdale. Funeral services are to be held in Oneonta at 3 p.m. Sunday. Brown-Service will be in charge.
[The Birmingham News, December 7, 1951]
Passes Away
Mr. Forney Gilliland passed away December 1st in Fresno, California. His body was returned to Birmingham. Funeral services were held at Old Liberty Church near Oneonta, Sunday, December 9th at 3:00 P. M. with burial in the adjoining cemetery. Brown Service of Birmingham in charge. Surviving Mr. Gilliland are three sons and two daughters, Aubrey D. Gilliland of West Blocton. Alabama; Grover Gilliland of Horton, Alabama; Forney Gilliland, Jr., of Birmingham; Mrs. Geraldine Blackmon of Altoona and Mrs. James Kirkpatrick of Birmingham.
He accomplished his purpose, and now he's coming home - to be buried. Gilliland's body will arrive in Birmingham from Fresno, Calif., at 8 a.m. Saturday. Relatives here have been told that in Fresno, Mr. Gilliland was a successful gold miner. During the 18 years since 1933 - when Gilliland left Birmingham - his whereabouts have been a mystery. Only once, in April 1943, he wrote a brother, Grover Gilliland, then a city detective, and told him: "I'm on my way to Alaska to do some work for the government. I'll write later, if a sub doesn't get us." The brother asked FBI assistance in helping trace the missing man, who left a wife and five children here. J. Edgar Hoover wrote the detective that his brother had been traced to Texarkana, Tex.; to El Paso, Albuquerque, N.M. and then to Red Bay. Ore. But despite the fact that he apparently never used an assumed name, they lost his trail there.
Relatives heard nothing after the 1943 letter until another brother, Dr. Oliver Gilliland, of New Orleans, was notified that Forney Gilliland died in a Fresno Hotel December 1.
The notification said he lived at the hotel. A further check with authorities said he died of a heart attack; that he left a new auto, and had "a couple substantial checks' due him from a mining concern. The authorities said he had done more than just make good - that he was a highly respected man in California mining circles. Surviving are his mother Mrs. J. B. Gilliland-Murray who resides with son Grover E. of Horton; Forney L., Jr. of 115 Graymont Ave, West, and Aubrey D., West Blocton. Daughters are Mrs. Gearldine Blackman of Houston and Mrs. Mary Jo Patrick of Birmingham. A third brother, Elver Gilliland, lives in Palmerdale. Funeral services are to be held in Oneonta at 3 p.m. Sunday. Brown-Service will be in charge.
[The Birmingham News, December 7, 1951]
Passes Away
Mr. Forney Gilliland passed away December 1st in Fresno, California. His body was returned to Birmingham. Funeral services were held at Old Liberty Church near Oneonta, Sunday, December 9th at 3:00 P. M. with burial in the adjoining cemetery. Brown Service of Birmingham in charge. Surviving Mr. Gilliland are three sons and two daughters, Aubrey D. Gilliland of West Blocton. Alabama; Grover Gilliland of Horton, Alabama; Forney Gilliland, Jr., of Birmingham; Mrs. Geraldine Blackmon of Altoona and Mrs. James Kirkpatrick of Birmingham.
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